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Mahalo for Gratitude: Interview and Giveaway

Congratulations to Amy Shavelson on winning the giveaway! Both Maryna and I have been so incredibly moved by your words and stories. Thank you so very much!

I think it was inevitable that I was going to love Maryna, the creator behind Mahalo Care. Not only does she make some of my favorite products, but she is a spunky Russian, with a brunette pixie cut: we are practically twins! Of course, her excellent taste in haircuts is not the real reason why I adore Maryna, but rather it is her passion and the sense of radiant joy that infuses her every action. In my review of Mahalo Care, I talked about the intention that can be seen behind Mahalo products and I can tell you with no exhagerration that Maryna’s joy and passion practically radiate from every bottle and jar. I wanted to interview Maryna ever since we met at ANFGB and we recently sat down for a Skype chat over cups of Sun Potion tea (for me) and coffee (for Maryna). We were thousands of miles and 6 hours apart, but it felt as though I was chatting to a dear friend across a kitchen table.

Because our chat was so delightfully rambling, I figured I would avoid the typical question-and-answer format and try to convey the spirit of our long distance coffee klatch (though I will avoid periodically switching to Russian mid-sentence).

I must admit, I was feeling a bit inadequate, sitting as I was in my bedroom, desperately trying to angle the floor lamp to provide enough light for me to be visible, while avoiding looking like a character in an interrogation scene in a noire movie. Maryna, her radiant skin the best possible advertisement for her products, had it easier, with bright Hawaiian sunshine streaming through her window. Fascinating as our chat was, I couldn’t help by be distracted by the occasional crowing of roosters outside Maryna’s window. Did you know that Hawaii is overrun by wild chickens?! Apparently a whole bunch of them escaped during a major hurricane and presto! Wild chickens providing your daily soundtrack.

We had previously talked about how a Russian/Ukrainian girl ends up in Hawaii (corporate burnout, runs off to Hawaii to recharge and recover, meets a boy, falls in love, stays and starts a brilliant beauty business – someone call Cameron Crowe), but I did wonder how Mahalo got its start. It turns out that Maryna and I have more in common than hair: inspirational grandmothers. Hers taught her about the power of plants and Maryna has been mixing up skin salves since she was a girl. Mahalo is an amalgam of those childhood lessons, her travels to India as a soul-searching teenager and the drive, research and commitment of a type-A corporate chick that Maryna was before her Hawaiian escape.

One of the very cool things about Mahalo is that the brand actually test runs its products in spa back bars. If anyone can give you constructive criticism is an aesthetician! What this means for us is that Mahalo has a whole lineup of seriously exciting products coming down the pipeline. Intrigued? You should be! I have been sworn to secrecy, but I can tell you that you can expect exquisite sensory delights with serious practical benefits.

I was also thrilled to learn that my grousing about the packaging of Vacation Glow was not in vain: Mahalo is in the process of repackaging all of the products. The big change is that the plastic tubs inside the bamboo will be replaced with glass (the Rare Indigo Balm is already packaged in the new jars) and Vacation Glow will be housed in the same (well, bigger) beautiful, rose gold pump bottle as the Vitality Elixir. This is the very thing that makes me so excited about Mahalo: the constant drive to innovate, change, grow and improve. I cannot wait for what is to come.

And now for the best part! Mahalo means “gratitude” in Hawaian. Both Maryna and I are big on gratitude and, after all, gratitude is what this season is all about. So to show our gratitude for all of you, we decided to have a pretty special giveaway: you can win a full size of the precious Rare Indigo Balm! I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am about this: Mahalo almost never goes on sale and giveaways are equally rare, plus Rare Indigo is the new superstar of the line. But here is the thing: you guys are the reason we do this. Your passion for green beauty, your commitment to supporting independent brands and your general awesomeness is what makes the green beauty scene such a special and beautiful thing, and so we want to thank you for being you.

There are several ways to enter our giveaway: click on the link to comment on this post and tell us what you are thankful for, or you can follow me and Mahalo on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (check out my Instagram for entry instructions). The giveaway will run through Monday and the winner will be announced on Tuesday. Good luck and thank you! You make this all worthwhile.

43 responses to Mahalo for Gratitude: Interview and Giveaway

I’m grateful for my boyfriend, my family members and new friends from esthetics school. They have helped me out so much throughout this rough year. Im grateful for my health getting better too. And I’m grateful for my friend Stephanie for always being here for me. Being friends with me throughout all these years and always remaining in contact. Thank you for the giveaway ! Fingers crossed

I am so very grateful for my family! We don’t get to see each other all the time but when we do it is just the best feeling! My mum and sister are my best friends and I would be lost without them. I am so thankful for them EVERY DAY because I can’t even imagine what my life would be without them and I don’t want to! Thank you so much for the giveaway and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I am so very grateful for my family! We don’t get to see each other all the time but when we do, it’s the best! My mum and sister are my best friends and they mean the world to me! I cannot imagine my life without them and I don’t want to – it would be terrible! Thank you for the lovely giveaway and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I’m always thankful for my family and friends! This time of year can be hard for so many reasons, so I also try to be thankful for the little things. Beautiful weather, delicious food, and adventures around every corner.

What I am grateful for could just go on and on and on. However, at this very moment – it would be health of the grandmother and the birth of first nephew. Thanks for the opportunity and Happy Thanksgiving to you!

I am grateful for my anxiety and depression, which have taught me to take better care of myself – physically and mentally – and for the people who support me through the hard times on this journey through life.

I’m grateful for each day with my son, my mum and my husband…my dad died in the beginning of September and I understood how time with ones you love is precious….
Thanks for the give away,
Greetings from France

Happy thanksgiving!!! This holiday is all about giving and you are doing exactly that… So I’ll do the same! I give you my gratitude, my laughter and my great looking skin after starting to use this rare pot of indigo goodness 😻😻😻😻 Kisses, a lot of them!

I’m grateful for my little family and all of the blessings we’ve been given. It’s easy to look at the negative sometimes, but I try even more during the holidays to focus on the good. Thanks so much for the generous contest and the chance to try the Mahalo balm! The vacation glow looks amazing as well!

Thankful that I am greeted with waggy-tailed exuberance everytime I walk through the door. For 1000 count sheets, for Roobios tea, for my large TO BE READ pile and for my even biggger TO DO list-Thanks. Grateful that I can at least catch a glimpse of how blessed I truly am! Thanks for this lovely opportunity.

I’m grateful for my parents, my boyfriend who is the love of my life, my family and friends…my experiences that have led me to where I am today. I’m also so happy and grateful for this wonderful giveaway and all the passion and beauty that goes into creating Mahalo! Xx

I’m so grateful for the intangible things of this world. For love, friendship, and faith which are the only things that truly last. I am so blessed for the intimate relationships of my life. Happy Thanksgiving!

I’m already following you both on everything! I am thankful for beautiful posts like this! I love your writing style and your sincerity – and Mahalo is an amazing line! I have been dying to try the new balm for my skin which suddenly has gotten very sensitive! Thanks for the opportunity ❤️

I am grateful for each day that comes as a new day to learn, grow, and spend with those I love. I’ve recently learned to stop worrying about the future so much and to appreciate each day (which as a perfectionist is difficult, but I at least try!).

I am very grateful for my family that they are all healthy and while I am missing my mom dearly especially at this time during the holidays. I am so very grateful to have had such an amazing woman in my life

I am grateful to know the love of God, to have an wonderful husband and have a blessed career. I am grateful that I know how to be grateful…that is just how lucky I am to have health, happiness and countless blessings.

I am so grateful for my health and for ever-flourishing relationships with friends and family. I am grateful for the many options to choose from in clean beauty. I am grateful for a career that makes me happy and rewards me in many ways beyond just the obvious – with community and all that comes along with it. Very simply, I am grateful for everything!

I’m grateful for having so many great-quality cleaner choices for my body and my family’s… and I’m grateful my boyfriend is on board! We are about to get the most wonderful gift of all: our first child, and I can’t wait to share my love for brands like Mahalo as he/she grows up.
Thanks for the lovely giveaway!